Photo Description

Deborah Jacobs stands in the library stacks, holding a book about homosexuality that has been vandalized.

Photo Caption

Deborah Jacobs, Corvallis-Benton County Library director, is among the librarians who fear the potential effects of Measure 9, whose backers say it would be used against pro-homosexual books for children. She also says four of the library’s books on homosexuality have been vandalized since late July.

Abstract

Oregon librarians are concerned about the threat of Ballot Measure 9 to intellectual freedom and First Amendment rights. If passed, the measure would prohibit the state from establishing Civil Rights protections based on sexual preference. Supporters of Measure 9 want to protect children from pro-homosexual books, and are not targeting adult library collections. Many professional organizations have condemned the initiative, including the Oregon Library Association.